"Young master Kioxe, wake up!" Potis shook the sleeping Kioxe.
"I need ten copper coin for the both of us to be able to go through the gates." Potis held out both hands as he displayed the amount needed.
Half-awake, Kioxe pulls out ten platinum coins from his ring.
"Kioxe put that away before someone sees. I need ten copper coins, not ten platinum coins. Got it?" Potis was terror-stricken.
"Hue hue hue, I was only kidding Otis." Kioxe was playing around as he stored his platinum coins and pulled out ten copper ones. With a sigh of relief, Potis made sure to remark the boy about his actions. If anyone were to see those ten platinum coins, Potis wasn't so sure if he alone would be able to fend off the greed of others. Being careful, Potis decided to get a couple copper and silver in advance from Kioxe to avoid any further monetary issue.
In a couple of minutes, the two heard a deep uncaring voice yelling, "Next!" The guard was six feet tall, but seemed like a monster to Kioxe as he had never been given the chance to meet others. With but just a flick of his hand, Potis had given the guard 10 copper coins. The two were then allowed entry as the gates were opened.
Kioxe clung to Potis as he was afraid of the guards patrolling the gates. Kioxe truly thought that Potis was weaker than the guards looking at their frame and build. Potis after all was a sixty year old man. It wouldn't be weird if someone called him an elder. It was even more so when Potis had a long one foot stash of grayish beard. Living in the woods, Potis never felt the need to cut his hair. It was more natural to let it grow.
Smirking, Potis picked the boy up and onto his shoulders. Feeling the change in height, Kioxe opened his eyes to see thousands upon thousands of people running amok among the marketplace.
"Local fish! Get your local fish for 10 copper coins each. Guaranteed to fill your belly and tasting to your tongue." A local fisherman cried out.
"Come on ladies, come on ladies, get your boyfriend or husband to buy you one of these pearls. It's the latest fad. It's only when they truly love you will they buy this pearl for you." A jewelry salesman cried out. As there were a line of buyers, truly there were some gullible women that forced their loved one to buy them the pearl as proof of their love.
In summary, the city of Zabudi was bustling. Kioxe couldn't help but have stars in his eyes. He wanted to walk up to every store as there were probably millions of things he had never seen before.
"Let's first find a place to stay for the night." Potis walked around until he found an inn that had the price of just twenty coppers. It wasn't a rundown inn, but one where it was relatively simple. That was all Kioxe and Potis needed as the two weren't going to stay for long.
Seeing as a worker walked by their room, Potis decided to kindly ask the miss for some answers.
"Excuse me miss, what is the name of the septem academy here in this city?" Potis kindly asked the worker.
"Oh, it's called the School of Zen. You must be a foreign country bumpkin if you haven't heard of the School of Zen." The worker replied.
"Is the School of Zen that amazing?" Potis asked in embarrassment. Judging from the worker's tone of voice, this School of Zen must really be an amazing academy.
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"Why yes! It's only one of the top three academy specialized in soul attacks in the whole continent of Xenodan." The worker boasted in pride.
Looking at how prideful the women was, Potis couldn't help but believe that this school really was that great.
"May I ask what are the requirements to enroll in this school?" Potis asked politely.
"Being one of the top school in the whole continent of Xenodan, the requirements are very strict. You would have to be 21 or younger to enter. Its second requirement is that the student be able to reach the first stage of septem before the age of ten. If you are older than ten, then you would have to show an official document to prove that the individual did get to the first stage before ten. Now the school's third requirement is the most hardest of all. You have to be able to reach the third stage of septem by the time you reach adulthood at sixteen. As for the school's rules, it's the same rules that apply to all. The universal rule of not being allowed to kill a fellow student." The worker recalled what she knew at the top of her head.
"Thank you very much!" Potis cupped his hands as he then handed her five copper coins.
Returning to his room, Potis watched as Kioxe was admiring the city. The hustling and bustling truly was a place where kids could let out their curiosity. Walking up to Kioxe, Potis lightly tapped on Kioxe's shoulder.
"You will be going to attend the school of Zen tomorrow. I'll get you signed up right away." Potis broke the news.
"School? Wat is dat?" Kioxe asked in confusion.
"It is a place where kids like you attend. The school will surely teach you how to be strong. You'll meet other kids like yourself and probably make a few friends." Potis replied reassuring Kioxe.
"B-b-but wat if I dun want to go to school? I like Otis, Otis makes me happy. Otis has to take care of me!" Kioxe protested.
"You have to go to school and try your best Kioxe. I can't take care of you forever. You saw how big and strong the guards at the gate was right? Potis has grown too old. Potis can't continue to always take care of you. I'll die soon and once that happens, who can take care of you but other than yourself?" A heartbroken Potis with streams of tears flowing down his wrinkly face cried out.
"Otis...dun cry...Kioxe will make Otis happy. Kioxe will be strong. Kioxe will be able to take care of Kioxe and Otis too. Kioxe will go to school and be strong." Kioxe wailed tugging at Potis's shirt.
"Be strong young master Kioxe. You have to show them your abilities tomorrow. Show me that you can take care of yourself before this dried up pile of skin and bones pass away." Potis stared into the eyes of Kioxe.
As the two got on bed to get ready for the next day, you'd be charmed to see a little kid like Kioxe hugging an elderly man that could pass as his grandfather so affectionately. The two were what you'd say went hand in hand.
Author's Note: this
Monetary System-1000 copper coin= 1 silver coin
1000 silver coin= 1 gold coin
1000 gold coin= 1 platinum coin
Who doesn't feel for their loved ones whether related by blood or not. I hope you all cherish your loved ones before it's too late. Just say you love them and it'll surely make their day. :D